Shelter “marries” dogs who have bonded in hopes they will be adopted together

After two senior dogs were found abandoned last summer in a Maine cemetery — the rescue Kennebec Valley Humane Society stepped in to make a lifelong coupling.

The rescue attempted to figure out who their owners were but no one came forward for Jack and Diane.

Image via Kennebec Valley Humane Society

The couple has been living at the shelter for the past six months and while they are happy to be safe and warm there, they are both anxious to find their forever home.

The 10-year-old Jack and 7-year-old Diane would adore a family to spend their last few years with.

To show how their commitment to keeping the senior dogs together for adoption, the rescued decided to host a wedding to officially marry them.

“The staff joked about them being our old married couple,” the shelter director, Stevanie Roy, told The Dodo. “When we thought of ways to promote them, we chose to marry the two bonded mates.”

Image via Kennebec Valley Humane Society

To prepare for the ceremony, the staff took one morning in early February decorating the shelter with white flowers along with other wedding decor.

They then rolled out a long carpet to be the aisle and soon, the guests started to flow in.

“Diane had her own dressing room where she was dressed in a veil with a flowered collar,” Roy said. “Jack, wearing a bow tie, patiently awaited her arrival at the altar — although when she started walking down the aisle, he quickly met her halfway with excitement.”

Image via Kennebec Valley Humane Society

Roy was waiting for both dogs at the altar, later saying a few words about Jack and Diane’s bond as guests looked on and took pictures of the two.

“Instead of saying ‘I do,’ the dogs each showered me with wet, slobbery kisses,” Roy said. “Their reception was held right after the wedding, where we had a pizza party, and both Jack and Diane snuck pepperoni slices from the hands of the staff.”

Image via Kennebec Valley Humane Society

The loving couple will make an amazing addition when they do find their family.

“When she is separated from Jack, you can find her impatiently waiting for his return,” Roy said. “When she sees him coming towards her, she does a little dance in excitement. Both Jack and Diane enjoy car rides, and both have attended multiple nursing homes to provide therapy to patients in need. They enjoy soaking up the attention!”

The rescue is happy to work with out-of-state adopters just as long as people are willing to make out the trip to the shelter.

Image via Kennebec Valley Humane Society

Until Jack and Diane are paired with their forever family, they are enjoying each other’s company and plenty of attention at the rescue.

“Jack and Diane are considered bonded and will be placed into a home together,” Roy said. “Any interested adopters are welcome to stop by our facility to meet them. They need a quiet retirement home with no other animals — to live their lives out being spoiled with comfortable beds, plenty of treats and unlimited amounts of love.”